The Drug Abuse Resistance Education - Essay Example

In the 1986 study of the National Institute of Justice, researcher William DeJong found positive results on the DARE program. Soon thereafter, the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Justice Department gave the program $140,000 to make it into a nationwide program and started training officers over the country to introduce the program in schools and deliver the curriculum.
(Aue, p 25)
The police officers received training for the facilitation of the program in schools. This benchmark has been carried out throughout the country and excellent reviews have been received by DARE officials. Support filtered up to Congress and politicians who stand against drugs and crime showed support for the program. Due to the huge amount of support, DARE received, National DARE Day was celebrated in 1989. In 1992, the funds increased to $10 million and the National DARE Day came thereafter. (Roleff, 2005)


The idea of having police officers facilitate the program is brilliant since students look to authorities. The credibility of the program is instilled in the minds of young kids that have been carried out for years.

Although good reviews have been received by the program, several criticisms were against the program. According to Research Triangle Institute, in 1993, DARE has short-term positive effects on students. It was stated that the effect of drug use was gone by middle and high school. (Aue, p 52)
After several criticisms from researchers and encouragement from government officials to reform DARE, the program decided to agree to several meetings with researchers and critics. Reform was needed but not replacing DARE since the introduction of another program will have been a giant feat. The potential delivery system of the program was one of DARE’s strengths that made them stay in operation.

A change in the curricula was made after several meetings at the Vera Institute’s offices in New York. A more intense program was established that is delivered even to middle and high school students. Continued improvements were made as time went on.

Conclusion
DARE has made several modifications to the program and mixed reviews have been recorded. After the revisions, the program has been more effective than it was before. Although there are still some areas of improvement, it is still better to have it than not. Political figures continue their support as they believe that the birth pains of the program will eventually be gone and will improve as time goes on. Read More